Champions League round-up: United and Arsenal win on a high-scoring night in Europe
Table of Contents
| 3 - 0 |
| ||||||
| Dimitar Berbatov 30 | ||||||||
| Dimitar Berbatov 51 | ||||||||
| Wayne Rooney 77 |
Defending champions Manchester United maintained their good form as they outplayed Scottish champion Celtic 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men found themselves in front after 30 minutes in controversial style when Dimitar Berbatov, who looked suspiciously offside, poked the ball home through the legs of Artur Boruc after John O'Shea had flicked on at a corner.
Just six minutes after the break, Berbatov - again from a possible offside position - grabbed United's second as he tapped in the rebound from Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick.
Wayne Rooney, who can't stop scoring at present, then wrapped up the victory for United on 77 minutes, scoring his ninth goal in seven matches for club and country.
The win leaves the Red Devils on top of Group E, along with Villarreal with seven points, while Celtic, with just one point from three matches, on the brink of elimination.
At El Madrigal, Villarreal claimed a 6-3 win over Aalborg thanks to a Joseba Llorente hat-trick.
Marek Saganowski gave Aalborg a surprise lead on 19 minutes, but the hosts equalised through Giuseppe Rossi in the 28th minute and five minutes later full-back Joan Capdevila gave Villarreal a 2-1 lead with a stunning drive.
But the advantage lasted just three minutes as Thomas Envoldsen brought Aalborg back on level terms.
Villarreal were again in front on 67 minutes when substitute Joseba Llorente followed up a Marcos Senna drive and then added his side's fourth shortly after.
Andreas Johansson pulled one back for the Danes on 77 minutes, but French veteran Robert Pires restored his side three-goal advantage two minutes later before Llorente completed his hat-trick in the closing minutes.
GROUP F
Bayern Munich continued their revival with an easy 3-0 triumph over Fiorentina at the Allianz Arena.
Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger scored in the first 25 minutes to give Bayern a comfortable lead at half-time.
Brazilian midfielder Zé Roberto sealed the victory in the dying minutes with a spectacular effort.
The result leaves Bayern lie top of Group F while Fiorentina slipped to third.
Karim Benzema and Fred scored two goals each as Lyon fought back from two goals down to grab a dramatic 5-3 win at Steaua Bucharest.
The Romanians netted twice in the opening 11 minutes thanks to goals from Arthuro and Dorin Goian.
Lyon, however, were deservedly back on level terms through Abdul Kader Keïta and Benzema.
But Ovidiu Petre headed Steaua in front again on the stroke of half time.
The thriller continued in style and it was Fred and Benzema who inspired Lyon's comeback.
Fred equalised on 69 minutes and Benzema grabbed his second three minutes later before Fred made sure of the points with a fifth goal in injury time.
GROUP G
Dynamo Kiev saw off Porto 1-0 to end the Portuguese club's unbeaten home record in the competition since 2005.
It was Porto's second straight loss, following its defeat at Arsenal.
The visitors scored the only goal on 27 minutes through a stunning free kick from Olexandr Aliyev.
Arsenal produced a stunning display at the intimidating Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium as they cruised to a 5-2 victory over Fenerbahçe.
The Gunners took the lead after 10 minutes as Emmanuel Adebayor latched on to Cesc Fàbregas pass before fired a low shot past Volkan Demirel.
Less than a minute later, Theo Walcott scored a similar goal to hand his side a two-goal cushion.
Arsenal defender Mikaël Silvestre was unfortunate to turn Dani Güiza's cross into his own net the 19th minute, but Abou Diaby restored the two-goal advantage three minutes later.
Alex Song lashed home Gunners' fourth four minutes after the break.
Spain international Güiza cut the deficit late on, but it was far too late as Arsenal comfortably secured the three points with a late strike from 17-year-old Wales international Aaron Ramsey.
Arsenal leads Group G with seven points, two points ahead of the second-placed Dynamo Kiev.
GROUP H
In the early match, Zenit St Petersburg were held to a 1-1 draw by minnows BATE Borisov.
Seven minutes after the break, BATE stunned the home fans as substitute Pavel Nekhaychik slotted in from close range.
The UEFA Cup champions carved a host of chances but Fatih Tekke finally rescued a point for Zenit with a late equaliser.
Juventus ended Real Madrid's perfect start with a vital 2-1 victory at Stadio Olimpico.
The players and fans held a minute's silence before kickoff as a mark of respect to the two Juve fans who died in a bus accident on the way to the match.
The hosts took the lead after only five minutes when veteran Alessandro Del Piero, who has scored 41 goals in the Champions League, beat Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a 25-yard stunner.
Early in the second half, Juve doubled their lead as Amauri headed in from close range with the help of a deflection off Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze.
Ruud van Nistelrooy nodded one back in the 66th, but the Bianconeri hung on for the points.
Juve went to the top of Group H with seven points, while Madrid has six.
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Sir Alex Ferguson's men found themselves in front after 30 minutes in controversial style when Dimitar Berbatov, who looked suspiciously offside, poked the ball home through the legs of Artur Boruc after John O'Shea had flicked on at a corner.
Just six minutes after the break, Berbatov - again from a possible offside position - grabbed United's second as he tapped in the rebound from Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick.
Wayne Rooney, who can't stop scoring at present, then wrapped up the victory for United on 77 minutes, scoring his ninth goal in seven matches for club and country.
The win leaves the Red Devils on top of Group E, along with Villarreal with seven points, while Celtic, with just one point from three matches, on the brink of elimination.
| 6 - 3 |
| ||||||
| Giuseppe Rossi 28 | Marek Saganowski 19 | |||||||
| Joan Capdevila 33 | Thomas Envoldsen 36 | |||||||
| Joseba Llorente 67 | Andreas Johansson 77 | |||||||
| Joseba Llorente 70 | ||||||||
| Robert Pires 79 | ||||||||
| Joseba Llorente 84 |
At El Madrigal, Villarreal claimed a 6-3 win over Aalborg thanks to a Joseba Llorente hat-trick.
Marek Saganowski gave Aalborg a surprise lead on 19 minutes, but the hosts equalised through Giuseppe Rossi in the 28th minute and five minutes later full-back Joan Capdevila gave Villarreal a 2-1 lead with a stunning drive.
But the advantage lasted just three minutes as Thomas Envoldsen brought Aalborg back on level terms.
Villarreal were again in front on 67 minutes when substitute Joseba Llorente followed up a Marcos Senna drive and then added his side's fourth shortly after.
Andreas Johansson pulled one back for the Danes on 77 minutes, but French veteran Robert Pires restored his side three-goal advantage two minutes later before Llorente completed his hat-trick in the closing minutes.
GROUP F
| 3 - 0 |
| ||||||
| Miroslav Klose 4 | ||||||||
| Bastian Schweinsteiger 25 | ||||||||
| Zé Roberto 90 |
Bayern Munich continued their revival with an easy 3-0 triumph over Fiorentina at the Allianz Arena.
Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger scored in the first 25 minutes to give Bayern a comfortable lead at half-time.
Brazilian midfielder Zé Roberto sealed the victory in the dying minutes with a spectacular effort.
The result leaves Bayern lie top of Group F while Fiorentina slipped to third.
| 3 - 5 |
| ||||||
| Arthuro 8 | Abdul Kader Keïta 23 | |||||||
| Dorin Goian 11 | Karim Benzema 33 | |||||||
| Ovidiu Petre 45 | Fred 69 | |||||||
| Karim Benzema 72 | ||||||||
| Fred 90 |
Karim Benzema and Fred scored two goals each as Lyon fought back from two goals down to grab a dramatic 5-3 win at Steaua Bucharest.
The Romanians netted twice in the opening 11 minutes thanks to goals from Arthuro and Dorin Goian.
Lyon, however, were deservedly back on level terms through Abdul Kader Keïta and Benzema.
But Ovidiu Petre headed Steaua in front again on the stroke of half time.
The thriller continued in style and it was Fred and Benzema who inspired Lyon's comeback.
Fred equalised on 69 minutes and Benzema grabbed his second three minutes later before Fred made sure of the points with a fifth goal in injury time.
GROUP G
| 0 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Olexandr Aliyev 27 |
Dynamo Kiev saw off Porto 1-0 to end the Portuguese club's unbeaten home record in the competition since 2005.
It was Porto's second straight loss, following its defeat at Arsenal.
The visitors scored the only goal on 27 minutes through a stunning free kick from Olexandr Aliyev.
| 2 - 5 |
| ||||||
| Mikaël Silvestre(o.g) 19 | Emmanuel Adebayor 10 | |||||||
| Dani Güiza 78 | Theo Walcott 11 | |||||||
| Abou Diaby 22 | ||||||||
| Alex Song 49 | ||||||||
| Aaron Ramsey 90 |
Arsenal produced a stunning display at the intimidating Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium as they cruised to a 5-2 victory over Fenerbahçe.
The Gunners took the lead after 10 minutes as Emmanuel Adebayor latched on to Cesc Fàbregas pass before fired a low shot past Volkan Demirel.
Less than a minute later, Theo Walcott scored a similar goal to hand his side a two-goal cushion.
Arsenal defender Mikaël Silvestre was unfortunate to turn Dani Güiza's cross into his own net the 19th minute, but Abou Diaby restored the two-goal advantage three minutes later.
Alex Song lashed home Gunners' fourth four minutes after the break.
Spain international Güiza cut the deficit late on, but it was far too late as Arsenal comfortably secured the three points with a late strike from 17-year-old Wales international Aaron Ramsey.
Arsenal leads Group G with seven points, two points ahead of the second-placed Dynamo Kiev.
GROUP H
| 1 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Fatih Tekke 80 | Pavel Nekhaychik 52 |
In the early match, Zenit St Petersburg were held to a 1-1 draw by minnows BATE Borisov.
Seven minutes after the break, BATE stunned the home fans as substitute Pavel Nekhaychik slotted in from close range.
The UEFA Cup champions carved a host of chances but Fatih Tekke finally rescued a point for Zenit with a late equaliser.
| 2 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Alessandro Del Piero 5 | Ruud van Nistelrooy 66 | |||||||
| Amauri 49 |
Juventus ended Real Madrid's perfect start with a vital 2-1 victory at Stadio Olimpico.
The players and fans held a minute's silence before kickoff as a mark of respect to the two Juve fans who died in a bus accident on the way to the match.
The hosts took the lead after only five minutes when veteran Alessandro Del Piero, who has scored 41 goals in the Champions League, beat Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a 25-yard stunner.
Early in the second half, Juve doubled their lead as Amauri headed in from close range with the help of a deflection off Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze.
Ruud van Nistelrooy nodded one back in the 66th, but the Bianconeri hung on for the points.
Juve went to the top of Group H with seven points, while Madrid has six.
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